At a Glance

San Antonio today is a vibrant meeting of centuries of crossed paths — Native Americans, Colonial Spain, Germans, Old Mexico, the Canary Islands, the Wild West, the Deep South — and its big, gracious heart pays homage to them all. At the Alamo, hear of Travis’ last stand, barge the scenic River Walk’s urban twists and turns and put an unexpectedly revealing eye on San Antonio’s past.

Activity Level

Varies by date

Varies by date. Moderate – Walking up to one mile, frequent transportation by motor coach. Active – Walking up to two miles daily, standing 1-2 hours, stairs.

Best of all, you'll ...

Delve into the 26 ethnic groups that settled the Texas frontier, including Germanic influences in the King William District.

Hear our award-winning master storyteller bring history and folklore alive through riveting tales that have been spun from cracker barrels to front porches for centuries.

Learn how to make the perfect enchilada from a female chef who prepared tacos for a presidential dinner, and then sit down to a full Mexican feast.

Featured Expert

All Experts

Donna Ingham

Tale teller and author Donna Ingham takes the ancient art of storytelling and gives it a Texas twist. A Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Artist, she published four books and is currently working on two more. In addition to being a recipient of the John Henry Faulk award, she has the dubious distinction of having been named “Biggest Liar in Austin” six times without even being elected to public office. She has a Ph.D. in English and was a college professor in her former life.

Bill Perryman

Tim Draves

Chita Harris

Ken Erfurth

Donna Ingham

Margie Strayer

Diana Barrios

Allen Hamilton

Suggested Reading List

View 10 books

People of the Storm

by Allen Lee Hamilton

People of the Storm is a sweeping historical novel about the epic and often brutal struggle between the United States and the Kiowa Indians over land, culture, and a way of life.

San Antonio: Outpost of Empires

by Lewis F. Fisher

San Antonio: Outpost of Empires is a vivid, honest portrait in words and pictures of San Antonio's evolution over the course of nearly three centuries, from the days of the colonists of New Spain to the defense of the Alamo to the inrush of a "jumble of races" to the rapid growth of the modern era.

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park

by Louis Torres

Gates of the Alamo (historically accurate novel)

by Stephen Harrigan

The Gates of the Alamo enfolds us in history and, through its remarkable and passionate storytelling, allows us to participate at last in an American legend. Filled with dramatic scenes, and abounding in fictional and historical personalities-among them James Bowie, David Crockett, William Travis, and General Santa Anna--Harrigan describes the battle from both sides.

Texas, My Texas: Musings of the Rambling Boy

by Lonn Taylor

In a collection of essays about Texas gathered from his West Texas newspaper column, Lonn Taylor traverses the very best of Texas geography, Texas history, and Texas personalities. In a state so famous for its pride, Taylor manages to write a very honest, witty, and wise book about Texas past and Texas present.

Crown Jewel of Texas, the Story of the San Antonio River

by Lewis Fisher

Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches

by S. C. Gwynne

S. C. Gwynne’s Empire of the Summer Moon spans two astonishing stories. The first traces the rise and fall of the Comanches, the most powerful Indian tribe in American history. The second entails one of the most remarkable narratives ever to come out of the Old West: the epic saga of the pioneer woman Cynthia Ann Parker and her mixed-blood son Quanah, who became the last and greatest chief of the Comanches.

From a Limestone Ledge: Some Essays and Other Ruminations about Country Life in Texas

by John Graves

Some of the most sensible, genial prose west of the Mississippi. A kind of sequel to Hard Scrabble-recounting more about his twenty years of quiet combat with the forces of nature.

As Texas Goes: How the Lone Star State Hijacked the American Agenda

by Gail Collins

Gail Collins, the best-selling author and columnist for the New York Times, visited Texas and discovered that in Texas, where Bush, Cheney, Rove, & Perry had created a conservative political agenda that is now sweeping the country and defining our national identity. Through its vigorous support of banking deregulation, lax environmental standards, and draconian tax cuts, through its fierce championing of states rights, gun ownership, and, of course, sexual abstinence, Texas, with Governor Rick Perry’s presidential ambitions, has become the bellwether of a far-reaching national movement that continues to have profound social and economic consequences for us all. Like it or not, as Texas goes, so goes the nation.

Gone to Texas, a History of the Lone Star State

by Randolph Campbell

Gone to Texas engagingly tells the story of the Lone Star State, from the arrival of humans in the Panhandle more than 10,000 years ago to the opening of the twenty-first century. Focusing on the state's successive waves of immigrants, the book offers an inclusive view of the vast array of Texans who, often in conflict with each other and always in a struggle with the land, created a history and an idea of Texas.

Afternoon: Orientation: At 4:00 p.m., the Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. Ask front desk staff or check signs in lobby for location of the meeting. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. All transportation for field trips will be via trolley or private motorcoach. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in available activities on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may be changed due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Our Group Leader will then present an introduction of San Antonio, explaining how the River Walk was developed and offering a short explanation about how various cultures converged on the area to make it the unique place that it is today. Before dinner, enjoy the daily kickback reception on the 2nd floor of the hotel, featuring free hot food and cold drinks.

Dinner: At the hotel, we'll get acquainted with the group over a catered meal.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

2

Texas Introduction, River Walk, Alamo, Menger Hotel

San Antonio, TX

B,L,D

Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day and standing for up to 2 hours at the museum. Getting on/off the trolley and going up/down steps to reach the River Walk.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we will have a buffet featuring a variety of items including scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, yogurt, bagels, toast, oatmeal, and fresh fruit, plus coffee, tea, juices, milk, water.

Morning: We’ll be joined by a local professor from St. Philip’s College who will explain why Texas stands out as one of America’s most recognizable states. Learn the sweeping events and fascinating characters that make Texas the amazing place it is; what John Steinbeck described as “a state of mind… a mystique closely approximating a religion… the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.”

Lunch: Head out on foot to a local restaurant for a sumptuous buffet featuring salads, soups, made-to-order pasta, and dessert, plus coffee, tea, water.

Afternoon: Led by a local expert, we’ll embark on a walking field trip to explore some of San Antonio’s most iconic sites. The Spanish colonial mission we known as the Alamo was established in 1718, and moved to its current location in 1724. Its history is fascinating and complex. After the fallen defense by 182 Texans against General Santa Anna’s army in 1836, “Remember the Alamo!” became a rallying cry for Texan independence. We’ll hear the story of the Alamo, and then get some time to go inside to visit the Shrine, view artifacts, and watch a short movie. The Menger, the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi, was established in 1859 and set the standard of luxury for its day. Among the historic events that took place here, Teddy Roosevelt recruited his “Rough Riders” cavalry brigade. Our local expert will bring us inside for a peek at the elaborately appointed lobbies and the Menger bar, to see the memorabilia from Roosevelt’s time. We’ll return to the hotel at the end of our field trip for some time to relax or enjoy the kickback reception.

Dinner: Walk to a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

3

Spanish Missions, TexMex Cooking Demo, Art Museum, Cathedral

San Antonio, TX

B,L,D

Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles and standing for up 3 hours at museums. Ability to board a motor coach with minimal assistance several times a day.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We'll start the day with a stop that takes us back in time to the Spanish colonial era of San Antonio in the 18th century at San Fernando Cathedral. The oldest church sanctuary in the United States, it was completed in 1750 and is still an active parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Construction began on the cathedral shortly after the Canary Island colonists, granted land and title by Spain’s King Philip V, settled here in 1731. We will then have a culinary adventure with all you need to know to begin Tex-Mex cooking at a family owned restaurant. With the head chef and owner, learn how to prepare a delicious Mexican meal with picante while hearing the story of how her mother struggled to start the restaurant and how the family business has expanded to satisfy the hunger of thousands of happy customers.

Lunch: At the family restaurant, savor a delicious meal of Tex-Mex cuisine.

Afternoon: Art enthusiasts will delight in a field trip to one of San Antonio’s finest art institutions, the McNay Museum of Art. Situated in a Spanish Colonial Revival-style home, it opened as the first museum of modern art in Texas in 1954. Today, visitors are captivated by magnificent works of art by modern masters including Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh, Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. We’ll finish the day at the San Antonio Mission National Historic Park where an expert will lead as we explore the missions that make up the historic park. Learn about the early settlement and efforts of the Spanish to convert local people to the Roman Catholic Church and an agricultural lifestyle. See how the Spanish used “acequia” (irrigation systems) to develop self sustaining agricultural communities along the San Antonio River.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, enjoy a choice of entrées, plus coffee tea, water.

Evening: Optional activity- If you like, this evening you may walk across the plaza adjacent to the hotel to the San Fernando Cathedral to see it like never before during a light show put together by French artist Xavier De Richemont. This 24 minute show tells the story of San Antonio from its beginnings to present day, projected on the front of the Cathedral. The Cathedral of San Fernando was built from 1738-50 by settlers from the Canary Islands who had been granted land by Spain's King Philip V. Santa Anna raised the red flag of “no quarter” from the church tower during the siege of the Alamo.

DAY

4

German Immigrants, River Barge Ride, Free Time

San Antonio, TX

B,L

Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll be joined by a local university professor on the intriguing story of German immigrant Mary Menger, who operated two large San Antonio enterprises in the mid 19th century and demonstrated that a woman can thrive during a time when men dominated local commerce. As a widow and single mother, Menger profited from both the Western Brewery and Menger Hotel, becoming San Antonio’s largest employer. We’ll then stop outside the hotel to the River Walk – the heart of the city – for a narrated barge ride exclusively for our Road Scholar group. Winding through downtown San Antonio, the pedestrian pathways are line with a blend of modern and historic architecture. As we pass underneath the stone bridges, the barge driver will tell us all about the history of the area and the buildings we will pass as we float along the river.

Lunch: At the hotel, we will have a buffet, plus coffee, tea, water.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY

5

Storytelling, Historic Homes, Western Art Museum

San Antonio, TX

B,L,D

Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio Riverwalk

Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles, standing for up to 2 hours. Getting on/off the trolley and going up/down steps to reach the River Walk.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: From campfires to cracker barrels to front porches, folks have been gathering around campfires for centuries and tales told well still work their magic. Texas history and folklore come alive through riveting tales – some true, some tall – told by our award-winning storyteller, so gather round, sit back, and enjoy. Chuckle at humorous stories and Texas myths told by our storyteller.

Lunch: We’ll venture to “South Town” for a meal at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We’ll head to the historic King William neighborhood to hear the interesting stories of immigrants and others who were instrumental in the economic development of the city. We’ll see mansions and cottages of varied architectural styles built by successful families after the Civil War. Walk along the San Antonio River and imagine when this part of the city served as farm land to support the Alamo complex in mission days. Finally, we’ll visit downtown’s newest museum, the Briscoe Museum of Western Art. Learn more about the development of Texas and the Old West as we enjoy seeing art and artifacts from the region.

Dinner: We’ll have a festive farewell dinner at a River Walk restaurant featuring a choice of entrée while enjoying live mariachi music.

Evening: At leisure. Linger over dinner or return to the hotel and prepare for check-out and departure in the morning following our closing session.

DAY

6

Early Texas Medicine, Program Concludes

San Antonio, TX

B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Take a peek at the system of folk medicine that came to be used by the early Texans, who were often forced to find substitutes for remedies that had been available in their previous environs. They began to share “cures” with people from other cultures such as Native Americans, Mexicans, Germans, Poles, Swedes, and many others. A local educator will join us as we look inside the medical cabinets of these early settlers with a long-time local educator. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals

13 Meals

5 Breakfasts

4 Lunches

4 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Lodging

Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.

Enjoy historical elegance and spectacular views along the famous River Walk. The Drury Plaza Hotel is the restored 1929 Alamo National Bank Building, located on the River Walk, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Using Art Deco ornamentation and the principles of the Beaux-Arts, the architects designed the twenty-four story skyscraper and incorporated the Texas Stars and southwest patterns. This architectural masterpiece has been a landmark in the San Antonio skyline since its construction. The outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, on the hotel's 24th floor, features city-wide views. Also featured is a breath-taking view of sunset over the San Fernando Cathedral from hotel's 14th floor Cathedral Terrace. To make reservations for additional nights before or after your program, please call 800-378-7946. Tell the agent you are participating in a Road Scholar program and use rate code 301219. This will allow you to reserve a room at a discounted rate at either the Drury Plaza River Walk hotel downtown, or the Pear Tree Inn San Antonio Airport. You can also make reservations directly online, using the following link: https://wwws.druryhotels.com/Reservations.aspx?property=0130&corpid=301219

I have wanted to take a trip to San Antonio for years, finally did it! I loved the entire trip. We had some wonderful presentations, my favorites were Allen Hamilton, his presentation on the history of Texas was witty and informative. I would take his class on history if I lived there. The other presenter I enjoyed immensely was Donna Ingham, Tale teller and author.
Our group leader Della Savage was fun and cordial and helpful. I loved our hotel, the openness of it, fast elevators, wonderful afternoon kickback receptions at 5:30. Very generous giving everyone three free drinks of their choice and lots of happy hour food even more so with salad, soups, nacho, chips, grilled chicken or beef, salsa, hot dogs, popcorn, etc...
The breakfasts were plentiful, scrambled eggs, sausage patties, pancakes, oatmeal, cereals, etc...The itinerary was interesting and we were kept busy. Many trips after dinner you have nothing to do but being on the River Walk was always interesting walking around, very colorful. Our barge ride was peaceful in the morning, the pool on the 23rd floor was very nice, great Jacuzzi.
One of the highlights was one evening we enjoyed a fantastic 24 minute video on the façade of the San Fernando Cathedral, with music telling the story of San Antonio. It was mesmerizing! The Briscoe Western Art Museum was beautiful and very interesting.
Our Tex Mex Cooking demonstration was fun and the variety of Margarita's were so colorful. The salsa was the best I've ever tasted. Wasn't crazy about the enchilada or puffed taco. I filled up on salsa and chips and the guacamole.
Learning about the Alamo was very interesting, they have a short movie, I also went to the IMAX show, a 48 minute show on "The Alamo" The Price of Freedom.
Our visit to the Menger Hotel and history was very interesting. One tip is to find someone to share a cab with, cheaper in the long run and you won't have to wait long, the shuttle is slow and not reliable.

This was definitely one of the best Road Scholar trips I have been on! San Antonio is a beautiful, fun, diverse, and cultured city. The city was only enhanced by the educational components that Road Scholar provides. The hotel, with its "free" breakfast and happy hour, and close proximity to everything was also great! Go in the spring, when everything is in bloom!

This was a wonderful program - San Antonio is a beautiful and historic city. The Riverwalk is a great walking area in the city. We had a wonderful time with a cooking demonstration, met new friends, and enjoyed every part of this program - cruise on the river, interesting and humorous speakers, and a walk through the historic King William area, to name a few of the activities.

This program far exceeded my expectations for a learning tour of San Antonio, a city we have visited in the past. All the presenters were excellent, both in their knowledge of their subjects and enthusiasm in presenting it to us. The location of our hotel was walking distance of most of this exciting city's attractions. This was well worth our time and money, and I recommend it to you, even if you have been to the city previously.

The Signature City San Antonio Program introduced me to the beauty of the San Fernando Cathedral, provided me with insight into the events leading up to the Alamo and introduced me to the delights of Riverwalk! I thoroughly enjoyed the trip.

This was a wonderful program, well organized, with an excellent tour guide. Della is very professional and was well prepared.
Presenters are top notch. If you like history and culture and wish to
learn about San Antonio and all it has to offer this trip is for you!
You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend it.

Great way to visit San Antonio. An intro to Texas history and that of San Antonio. Visit the major "must-see" sites. Excellent program leader (Ginger Burkholder) and presenters. Good hotel location (on the River Walk) for free time activities.

This was a wonderful program, and I highly recommend it! The group leader, Ginger, was delightful. Her enthusiasm and warmth made everything interesting. Before going to San Antonio, I did not realize how many interesting things there were to see and do there -- e.g. the Alamo, the missions, the museums, and the light show at the Cathedral (called "the Saga"--don't miss it!) The hotel is right on the Riverwalk and within walking distance of many of the sights. The restaurants on the Riverwalk have great food and a wonderful ambience. The cooking class featured authentic Mexican cuisine. I tried a prickly pear margarita for the first time and fell in love with it!!

This was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The group leader and instructors were knowledgable and passionate about their city; the program content was varied and comprehensive with lots of history and culture; the hotel is in the heart of downtown and and convenient to everything, especially the gorgeous River Walk; and the program participants were interesting, curious and great fun to be with. We also enjoyed the added bonus of perfect spring weather for the entire 5 days! I highly recommend this program.

The San Antonio Signature City experience was undoubtedly one of Road Scholar's best. It is well planned to understand the background and present day objectives of the city. The atmosphere of the River Walk
permeates the experience.

I HIGHLY recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in learning about the wonderful history of Texas and San Antonio. The trip was well organized, informative and a lot of fun! We experienced the culture and history of San Antonio, and it was truly memorable.

Good program on an interesting city. I thought the walking was a little bit more than described. Leadership and instructors were good. Some of the food could have been better, but don't let this stop you from going.

If you haven't been to Signature City San Antonio, you're missing a vibrant, unique city on the San Antonio River. The Alamo is a must see for Texas history's sake and the extensive Riverwalk is uniquely enjoyed both by day and evening after dark. Our Road Scholar instructors were superb, history was never this much fun and the deadpan teller of tall tales had some whoppers. You might wish to try dill pickle juice to relieve nighttime cramps so says the instructor on folk medicine. The free thrice-weekly "Saga" story projected onto the face of the San Fernando Church nearby the Drury Hotel is a must see. This was our third Signature City with RS and it won't be our last.

San Antonio is a tourist friendly city and has many attractions but the weather (rain) interfered with this program all week. I also think that the group of 38 was too large, but overall it was still worth doing as it seems all Road Scholar programs are. I always learn something!

This program is very informative, particularly to individuals who are not that well informed about the history and culture of Texas. Thee length of the program is good and the hotel is located well in the center so that so activity on our own was quite possible. Except for part of one day we were not hampered by the weather and the managers did well to account for the rain.
The instructors were extremely knowledgeable of the subject and did well to put their knowledge across. The use of personal amplification devices was very helpful during field trips to make things understandable. The material provided prior to the trip was very helpful in being properly prepared upon arrival. We found the activity level moderate, and in spite of my 92 years could keep up with the activities with difficulty. This was my 17th Elderhostel/Toad Scholar Program and our third City Program, and we found them all very helpful.

The interest in San Antonio continues to grow, and when you visit you will understand why! The atmosphere warm and Texas friendly, and you'll learn some things you never learned in your history books about this big, sprawling state that will make your head spin. The leader, Ginger, was always nearby and went the extra mile to be sure everyone had a good experience. The hotel is right downtown and a block from the Riverwalk. Our speakers were the best.

For those who want to learn more about Texas and specifically San Antonio this is a wonderful week. The city in flat and walkable. The beauty of the Riverwalk charmed all of us. A barge ride along the San Antonio River is a particularly pleasant way to enjoy the city. The Alamo lived up to its reputation. No wonder the Texans refer to it as a shrine. The tour guide, Ginger, is a wonderful addition. She is warm, helpful, and ever so competent. The speakers gave fact filled, entertaining presentations that made the whole community come alive. If you go, add a dish of the Menger Hotel's mango ice cream to your free time activities. You'll be glad you did.